Apparatus for coating plates



Dec. 5, 1950 E. PENKER ET AL 2,532,730

APPARATUS FOR COATING PLATES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 10, 1947INVENTOR.5

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Dec. 5, 1950 E. PENKER ET AL 2,532,730

APPARATUS FOR COATING PLATES Filed Oct. 10, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORD Dec. 5, 1950 E. PENKER ET AL 2,532,730

APPARATUS FOR COATING PLATES Filed Oct. 10, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 N a Rg? g 3115 A INVENTORJ WWW Dec. 5, 1950 E. PENKER ET AL APPARATUS FORCOATING PLATES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 001', 10

Dec. 5, 1950 E. PEN'KER ETAL 2,532,730

APPARATUS FOR COATING PLATES Filed Oct. 10. 1947 INVENT0R$ Dec. 5, 1950E. PENKER ETAL APPARATUS FOR COATING PLATES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct.10, 1947 Patented Dec. 5, 1950 APPARATUS FOR COATING PLATES ErnestPenker, Flushing, and Martin Bulin, Jackson Heights, N. Y., assignors toEtched Products Corporation, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation ofNew York Application October 10, 194?, Serial No. 778,998

This invention relates to coating apparatus, and more particularly, toapparatus for coating one surface of a metal plate which is to be dippedin an etching bath.

In preparing a metal plate for etchingfor example, to provide raisedcharacters on its surface-the characters are imprinted on one surface ofthe plate by a suitable ink. The ink is then protected by a suitablematerial resistant to the action of the chemicals in the etching bath.The opposite surface of the plate is coated on the plate surface. Theheight of the characters is determined by proper correlation of thestrength of the etching solution and the time interval of immersion.

It is important that the metal surface to be etched be clean.Consequently, it is necessary not to touch this surface with thefingers, as the oily deposit resists the action of the etching solution.Likewise, the coating of the back surface of the plate should not betouched until it is thoroughly dry. Apparatus for handling and coatingsuch plates has hitherto not been satisfactory from the standpoint ofthese two conditions.

In accordance with the present invention, a coating apparatus, forcoating the back surface of the plate, is provided in which the frontsurface need not be handled and the back coating is not touched untilthoroughly dried. The plate, having the characters printed thereon andcoated, is handled through its back surface and placed on a rollerconveyor mechanism. This mechanism feeds the plate in contact with acoating roller from which the plate is discharged onto a conveyorwhich'engages only the lower corners of the longitudinal edges of theplate.

Roller means are provided to press the back surface of the pla e againstthe coating rollers. In such roller means were aligned with the coatingroller, it would become smeared with the coating material andcorrespondingly smear the front surface of the plate. Accordingly, thepresent invention utilises two pressure roller means, one in advance ofthe coating roller and the other rearwardly thereof.

The forward roller presses the plate against the coating roller whenthe-'first portion of the 8 Claims. (CI. 91-50) plate passes the coatingroller. The rear pressure roller is mounted for movement into and out ofengagement with th'plate. An automatic scanning device, such as an"electric eye is provided which, when the leading plate edge approachesthe coating roller, actuates mechanism to retract the rear pressureroller. When the trailing edge of the plate passes the scanningmechanism, the rear pressure roller is engaged with the plate.

The receiving conveyor comprises longitudinally spaced pairs of rollershaving their axes angularly disposed to form a. V bisected by aperpendicular to the plate surface. Thus, these rollers engage only thelower corners of the side edges of the plate. The rollers are furtherformed with axially spaced, circumferential grooves receiving suchcorners. With this constructional arrangement, the coated under surfaceof the plate is not contacted until it has had a chance to thoroughlydry.

The receiving conveyor as a. whole is made vertically adjustable so thatthe horizontal spacing between the rollers, at the plane of movement ofthe plate over the coating roller, will substantially equal the width ofthe plate. This assures contact between the longitudinal plate edges andthe conveyor rollers. To facilitate this vertical adjustment, a feelergauge is provided on the feeding conveyor means for accurately centeringthe plate thereon and has a scale carrying plate width indicia... Asimilarly marked scale is associated with the vertical adjustment meansfor the receiving conveyor, so that the latters height is adjusted inaccordance with the plate width.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide novel apparatusfor coating a surface of a metal plate.

Another object is to provide a novel plate receiving conveyor havingsupport means contacting only the lower corners of the longitudinaledges of the coated plate.

A further object is to provide automatically operative pressure means,spaced from the coating means, and engaged with the plate responsive tothe position thereof relative to the coating means.

A still further object is to provide a novel arrangement for accuratelyadjusting the height of the receiving conveyor in accordance with theplate width.

These, and other objects, advantages and novel features 91. theinvention will be app e f the following descriptionand the accompanyingdrawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view, partly broken away, of a detail of theapparatus.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus, on theline 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the apparatus. partly broken awayto illustrate certain details more clearly.

Fig. '1 is asectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an elevation view partly in section, on the line 8-9 of Fig.8.

Fig. 10 is a medial transverse elevational view taken substantially onthe line |8||l of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line of Fig. 10.

Figs. 12 and 13 are sectional views on the correspondingly numberedlines of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a rear elevation view of the apparatus, showing a coatedsheet receiving conveyor in one position.

Fig. 15 is a view, similar to Fig. 14, showing the conveyor in anotherposition.

Figs. 16 and 1'1 are somewhat diagrammatic views illustrating certainfeatures of the operation of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the coating apparatus of the invention ismounted on a suitable frame generally indicated at l8, and includesconveyor mechanism for feeding a sheet to be coated, into contact with acoating roller 40. Coating roller 4|] applies a coating of asphalt, orof other material resistant to the chemicals of the etching bath, to theunderface of sheet 30. A conveyor 50 receives the coated sheet as itpasses from coating roller 40, and is so arranged that it engages thesheet only on the lower corners of the longitudinal or side edges of thesheet. A pressure roller 50 is disposed in advance of roller 40 forpressing sheet 30 firmly against the coating roller during the passageof the forward portion of the sheet over the coating roller. Whensubstantially half the sheet has passed coating roller 48, a series ofrollers 10 disposed rearwardly of roller 40 engage the sheet to hold itin contact with roller 40.

Rollers 18 are moved between a retracted and an engaged position withrespect to sheet 30 by suitable means which is hereindicated as two aircylinder arrangements.80. Admission of air to air cylinders 80 iscontrolled by an air valve which is in turn under the control of aphotoelectric scanning device generally indicated at 90. As the forwardedge of sheet 30 passes beneath scanning device 90, air cylinders 80 areactivated to move rollers 18 to the retracted position. When the rear ortrailing edge of sheet 38 passes beneath scanning device 90, aircylinders 80 are again activated to move rollers 10 into engagement withsheet 30. This causes arms 10 to press sheet 30 against roller 40 duringpassage of the rear half of the sheet past the roller.

The sheet feeding conveyor mechanism 20 includes a plurality of rollers2| which are journalled in side frame members 22, 22. Each roller 2| hasa sprocket 23 affixed to one end of its central shaft 24, and a chain 26extends over these sprockets and over a sprocket 4| on the shaft 42 ofcoating roller 40. A slack take-up means is provided in'the form of asprocket 21 mounted in bearing 28 on rod 29. Rod 28 extends throughbracket 3| and has a threaded end to which is secured a nut 32 foradjusting the tension of chain 21 by setting the longitudinal positionof rod 28.

The driving mechanism includes a motor 25 having a speed changing pulley33 connected by a belt 34 to drive a pulley 36 of a gear reduction unit35. Gear reduction unit has a shaft 31 extending rearwardly therefromand provided with a bevel gear 38 which meshes with a bevel gear 39secured to a shaft 43 rotatably mounted in an arm 44 secured to a column46 of frame l8. Shaft 43 has a sprocket 41 on its outer end which,through a chain 48, drives a sprocket 49 on the shaft 5| of a roller 45,having a function described hereinafter. Roller 45 is provided with aspur gear 52 meshing with a spur gear 53 on roller 48. Thus, through thedescribed arrangement, motor 25 rotates rollers 2|. The chain 26,intermediate sprockets 23, is held in engagement with the rollersprockets by idling sprockets 54 mounted in the frame memebrs 22.

Roller 45 has substantial surface contact with coating roller to applythe coating material thereto. This material is preferably asphalt orother material resistant to the chemicals of the etching bath. Thecoating material is in a tank 55 which is supported on spaced pairs ofinterconnected links 56 pivoted on frame members 51. A handle 58 issecured with a shaft secured to the forward links, whereby tank 55 maybe adjusted vertically by swinging the links 56. Tank 55 may be refilledthrough a filling neck 59 at its forward end.

Roller is adjustably mounted to assure proper application of the coatingmaterial to coating roller 40. The adjustable mounting arrangement isbest shown in Figs. 6 through 9 as comprising a pair of forked arms 6|pivoted on pins 62 set in vertical frame members 63. Shaft 5| of roller45 extends through arcuate slots 64 in members 63 and sets in bushings66 in the forked ends of arms 6|. The opposite ends of arms 6| areprovided with brackets 61 engaged by studs 68, threaded through brackets1| on frame members 22 and provided with lock nuts 12. Adjustment ofstuds 68 swings arms 6| to adjust roller 45 relative to roller 40 andtank 55. The adjustment is locked by studs 13 extending through arcuateslots 14 in arms 6| and threaded in member 63.

A feature of the invention is the use of a plate centering gauge onfeeding conveyor means 28. This gauge 15 comprises fiat plate 16 mountedfor transverse movement in guides 11 and carrying fingers 18 forengaging a longitudinal edge of plate 38. One guide 11 is provided witha clamping means 1.9 for retaining plate 16 in adjusted position. Ascale 8| on plate 16 is graduated in plate widths and cooperates with apointer 82 on a guide 11. When pointer 82 indicates the plate width onscale 8|, fingers 18 position plate 30 centrally of conveyor means 20.As will be explained hereinafter, gauge 15 has a functional cooperationwith a height gauge on receiving conveyor 50.

An important feature is the pressure rollers 68 and 10, for pressingplate 30 firmly against the 0 8 m terial on roller 40. If pressurerollers bers H3, and the lower ends in bracket H5.

were vertically aligned with roller 49, considering the relativethinness of plate 39, the pressure rollers would pick up coatingmaterial from roller 49. In pressing plate 39 against roller 49, thepressure roller would smear coating material on the upper surface ofplate 39 carrying the coated, printed characters. Consequently, in thepresent invention, forward and rearward pressure rollers 69 and I9 areprovided, which are not vertically aligned with roller 49.

Forward pressure roller 69 has its shaft 86 carried in bearings 81 whichare mounted on the lower ends of studs 88 threaded through ears 89 on a,frame member 9|. By adjustment of studs 88, the distance between rollers49' and 69 may be regulated in accordance with the thickness of plate39. Roller 49 is driven, by a chain 29 I from roller 45.

The rear rollers I9 are arranged to be moved from a plate engagingposition to a retracted position in accordance with the travel of plate39. For this purpose, the axle 92 (Figs. 3 and 4) carrying rollers I9 ismounted in journals 93 set in guides 94 and biased upwardly by springs96. Studs 91 connect journals 93 to a cross bar 98, to which are securedthe piston rods 99 of a pair of air cylinders 89 mounted on bracketssecured to the rearward portion of plate 9Ia.

When air is admitted to cylinders 89, rollers I9 are forced intoengagement with the upper surface of plate 39.

Control of the air supply to cylinders 89 is effected by a solenoid airvalve I92 supplied with air from a conduit I93 connected to a pressureregulator I94, having a pressure gauge I96, and supplied with air from asuitable source through conduit m1. Conduits I98, I99 connect valve I92to cylinders 89.

Operation of valve I92 to admit air to or exhaust air from cylinders 89is under the control of a scanning device such as a photoelectric cell99. Cell 99 is connected electricallv to suitable mechanism in a housingI9I, which mechanism controls energization of solenoid air valve I92 inaccordance with signal impulses from photoelectric cell 99. As will beexplained hereinafter, when the forward edge of plate 39 interrupts thebeam on cell 99. valve I92 is actuated to release air from cylinders 89.Springs 96 move journals 93 upwardly to move rollers I9 to the retractedposition. When the plate 39 passes from beneath cell 99. the latter actstocause valve I92 to admit air to cylinders 89, forcing rollers 19 toengage the upper surface of plate 39 and hold the plate against roller45.

One of the most im ortant features of the invention is the conveyor 59which receives the coated plates 39 as they are discharged from thecoating roller 45. This conveyor comprises a frame I'I9, mounted forvertical adiustment on frame I8, and spaced pairs of rollers I29 eachpair having their axes forming an upwardly opening V bisected by aperpendicular to the surface of plate 39.

Frame II9 includes a base III having uprights H2 at its cornersconnected by up er longitudinal members '3 having their surfaces nerpemdicular to the axes N4 of rollers I29. Extendin centrally of base III isan inverted, v-shaned bracket H5. Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, theupper ends of axes II4 are journalled in mem- Inside bracket II5, eachaxle II 4 has fixed thereto a s rocket H6.

Chains I I1 interconnect all of the sprockets I I8 6 so that all of therollers I29 will be rotated in unison. For the purpose of driving therollers, the forward pair of rollers having intermeshing bevel gears H8,one of which meshes with a bevel gear I'2I. Gear I2I is secured to ashaft I22 in a bearing I23 on a. plate I24 extending downwardly frombracket H5.

Shaft I22 is driven from gear reduction unit 35. For this purpose, shaft31 extends rearwardly through gear 38 and continues as a shaft I26through a sleeve I21 mounted in a block I28 secured between support 49and an angular member I29. At its rear end, sleeve I21 has a U- shapedbracket I39 secured thereto by a set screw I3I, so that sleeve I21 actsas an axis of oscillation for bracket I39 by virtue of its bearing inblock I28.

The rear end of shaft I26 has keyed thereto a bevel gear I33 meshingwith a bevel gear I23. Gear I33 is keyed to a shaft I34 mounted inbearings I36 in the arms of bracket I39. Shaft I34 is slidable throughgear I33, and a spacing sleeve I31 extends betwen one bearing I36 andgear I33. One element I38 of a universal coupling is secured to theupper end of shaft I34 and the other coupling element I39 is secured toshaft I22. Rollers I29 are thus rotated by prime mover 25 through acoupling permitting vertical adjustment of rollers I29.

As stated. receiving convevor 59 is vertical y adjustable to receiveplates 39 of varying widths and support them in the plane of dischargefrom coating roller 49. Frame 9 has support and guide columns I4Iextending through bearings I42 on sup orts I43 forming part of frame I8.

A pair of links I44 pivoted on frame H9 and a pair of links I46 pivotedon frame I8 have their adjacent ends pivotally connected to the ends ofa bar I41. Similarly, another pair of links I5I pivoted on frame H9 anda corresponding pair I52 pivoted on frame I8 have their inner endspivotally connected to the ends of a bar I53. Bars I41 and I53 areprovided with threaded apertures which receive reversely directedthreaded portions on a shaft I54 rotated by hand wheel I55. When shaftI54 is rotated in one direction, the links are pulled toward alignment,raising conveyor 59. Rotation in the opposite direction lowers conveyor59. The sliding shaft I34 and the universal coupling I38, I 39 providefor driving of rollers I29 by motor 25 in any position of conveyor 59.

The operation of the apparatus will be understood best by reference toFigs. 14 through 17. Referring to Figs. 16 and 17, sheet 39, havingcharacters printed and coated on its upper surface, is placed onconveyor 29. Rollers 2I pull sheet 39 toward roller 49. As the forwardsheet edge interrupts the beam of cell 99, valve I92 is operated todischarge air from pistons 89 so thatsprings 96 move rollers I9 to theretracted position. Pressure roiler 69 forces the under surface of plate39 against roller 49, to coat the under surface with asphalt or thelike, during passage of the forward part of plate 89 past roller 49.

As plate 39 emerges from roller 49, the lower corners of its side edgesare engaged in grooves I56 of rollers I29 of conveyor 59, thus avoidingroller contact with the coated under surface of plate 30. For thispurpose, rollers I29 are provided with axially spaced, circumferentialgrooves I56 receiving the lower side edge corners. As the rear edge ofplate 39 passes from beneath cell 99, valve I92 is operated to admit airto cylinders I9I, thus pressing rolls I9 against the upper surassavso 7faceof plate ll. This holds the plate against roller ll during passageof the rear half of the plate in contact with the coating roller.

If rolls It were continuously in the lower position, they would bendplate 30 so that it would not properly engage rollers I20 of conveyorII. The conveyor 50 is vertically adjustable so that the horizontaldistance between rollers I29 at the level of plate 30 is equal to theplate width. A gauge I51 on frame It, cooperable with an indicator I58on frame may be used to adjust conveyor 50 in accordance with thereading of centering gauge II on feeding conveyor 20. Ad- Justment ismade by turning shaft I54 through wheel iii.

The described apparatus thus provides a novel arrangement for coatingthe imprinted surface of a plate to be etched in a chemical bath. Thepressure means for forcing such surface against the coating roller arenot aligned with such roller. Consequently, they will not become smearedwith the coating material and will, accordingly, not smear the printedsurface of the plate. The novel, adjustable, V-roller receiving conveyorengages only the lower corners of the side edges of the plate, so thatdamage to the coating of the under surface is prevented during dryingand hardening thereof. Additionally, novel gauge means are provided tocenter the plates transversely of the apparatus and to set the height ofthe receiving conveyor in accordance with plate width.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail, to illustrate the application of the principlesthereof, it will be understood that the invention may be otherwiseembodied without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for applying a coating to the under surface of a sheetof material, a rotatable coating roller arranged to engage such surfaceand apply a coating thereto; mechanism for feeding the sheet intoengagement with said coating roller; and a conveyor for receiving thecoated sheet from said roller, said conveyor including opposed angularlydisposed sheet support rollers for engaging only the lower corners ofthe longitudinal edges of the sheet.

2. In apparatus for applying a coating to the under surface of a sheetof material, a rotatable coating roller arranged to engage such surfaceand apply a coating thereto; mechanism for feeding the sheet intoengagement with said coating roller; and a conveyor for receiving thecoated sheet from said roller, said conveyor including longitudinallyspaced pairs of sheet supporting rollers, the rollers of each pair beingarranged with their axes forming an upwardly opening V bisected by aperpendicular to the center line of the sheet, and engaging only thelower corners of the longitudinal edges of the sheet.

3. In apparatus for applying a coating to the under surface of a sheetof material, a rotatable coating roller arranged to engage such surfaceand apply a coating thereto; mechanism for feeding the sheet intoengagement with said coating roller; and a conveyor for receiving thecoated sheet from said roller, said conveyor including longitudinallyspaced pairs of sheet supporting rollers, the rollers of each pair beingarranged with their axes forming a V bisected by a perpendicular to thecenter line of the sheet, and engaging only the lower corners of thelongitudinal edges of the sheet; each roller having 8 axially spaced,circumferential such lower sheet corners.

4. In apparatus for applying a coating to the under surface of a sheetof material, a rotatable coating roller arranged to engage such surfaceand apply a coating thereto; mechanism for feeding the sheet intoengagement with said coating roller; a conveyor for receiving the coatedsheet from said roller, said conveyor including longitudinally spacedpairs of sheet supporting rollers, the rollers of each pair beingarranged with their axes forming a V bisected by a perpendicular to thecenter line of the sheet, and engaging only the lower corners of thelongitudinal edges of the sheet; and means for adjusting said conveyorvertically, in accordance with the sheet width, to receive the sheet inthe plane of movement past said coating roller.

5. In apparatus for applying a coating to the under surface of a sheetof material, a rotatable coating roller'arranged toengagesuch surfaceand apply a coating thereto; conveyor mechanism for feeding the sheetinto engagement with said coating roller; a conveyor for receiving thecoated sheet from said roller, said conveyor including longitudinallyspaced pairs of sheet sup porting rollers, the rollers of each pairbeing arranged with their axes forming a V bisected by a perpendicularto the center line of the sheet, and engaging only the lower comers ofthe iongitudinal edges of the sheet; means for adjusting said conveyorvertically, in accordance with the sheet width; a gauge cooperable withsaid conveyor means to center the sheet laterally thereof and includingindicia correlated with the sheet width; and a scale associated withsaid conveyor adjustment means and having indicia correlated with thesheet width; whereby said scale may be used in cooperation with saidgauge to adjust said device to set the height of said conveyor toreceive the sheet in the plane of movement past said coating roller.

. 6. In apparatus for applying a coating to the under surface of a sheetof material, a rotatable coating roller arranged to engage such surfacetudinal edges of the sheet; means for adjusting said conveyorvertically, in accordance with the sheet width, to receive the sheet inthe plane of movement past said coating roller; a sprocket rotatablewith each conveyor roller; a chain engaged with said sprockets; a drivemember engaged with said chain to rotatesaid conveyor rollers; drivingmeans; and a universal driving device between said driving means andsaid drive member to accommodate vertical adjustment of said conveyor.

7. In apparatus for applying a coating to one surface of a sheet ofmaterial, a rotatable coating roller arranged to engage such surface andapply a coating thereto; mechanism for feeding the sheet into engagementwith said coating roller; first means in advance of said roller arrangedto engage the other surface of the sheet to press such one surfaceagainst said roller during passage of the forward portion of the sheetin contact with said roller; retractable second means 9 rearward of saidroller normally maintained out of the plane of said sheet anddisplaceable into engagement with the other surface of the sheet topress such one surface against said roller during passage of therearward portion of the sheet in contact with said roller; an aircylinder and piston device operable, when actuated, to move said secondmeans between the sheet engaging position and a retracted position; anda photoelectric scanning device" having a beam in the path of the sheetsand operatively connected with said mechanism and efiective, byinterruption of its beam when the leading edge of the sheet approachessaid first means, to activate said device to retract said second meansand. in

clearance of its beam when the trailing edge of the sheet approachessaid first means, to engage said second means with the sheet.

8. In apparatus for applying a coating to one surface of a sheet ofmaterial, a rotatable coating roller arranged to engage such surface andapply a coating thereto; mechanism for feeding the sheet into engagementwith said coating roller; a first pressure roller in advance of saidcoating roller arranged to engage the other 25 gagement with the othersurface of the sheet to press such one surface against said coatingroller to coat the same; an air cylinder and piston device operable,when actuated, to move said second pressure roller between the sheetengaging position and a retracted position; and a photoelectric scanningdevice having a beam in the path of the sheets and operatively connectedwith said mechanism and efiective, by interruption of its beam when theleading edge of the sheet approaches said first pressure roller, toactivate said device to retract said second pressure roller and, whenthe trailing edge of the sheet approaches said first pressure roller, toengage said second pressure roller with the sheet.

ERNEST PENKER. MARTIN BULIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'EN'I'S Number Name Date 403,633 Allen May 21, 1889905,269 Zapf Dec. 1, 1908 2,126,663 Reinitz Aug. 9, 1938 2,167,430 Bootyet a1 July 25, 1939 Ives Feb. 18, 1941.

